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By: Garcia (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) |
H.B. No. 3537 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2007; |
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May 10, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on |
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Jurisprudence; May 17, 2007, reported favorably by the following |
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vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 17, 2007, sent to printer.) |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of a child by a person serving in the |
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military. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 162, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 162.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 162.0025. ADOPTION SOUGHT BY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER. |
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In a suit for adoption, the fact that a petitioner is a member of the |
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armed forces of the United States, a member of the Texas National |
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Guard or the National Guard of another state, or a member of a |
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reserve component of the armed forces of the United States may not |
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be considered by the court, or any person performing a social study |
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or home screening, as a negative factor in determining whether the |
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adoption is in the best interest of the child or whether the |
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petitioner would be a suitable parent. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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petition for adoption pending in a trial court on the effective date |
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of this Act or filed on or after that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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* * * * * |